Government forcibly submits new U.S. base environmental assessment documents to Okinawa

   The Naha Defense Facilities Administrative Bureau on August 7 submitted to Okinawa Prefecture documents specifying the methods of environmental assessment for the construction of a new U.S. base on the coastline of U.S. Camp Schwab in Nago City to replace the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Station.

   The Okinawa Prefectural government which is requesting the central government to shift the construction site further offshore declined to accept the documents. However, the bureau forcibly dropped them off and intends to carry out the assessment after the period of exhibition for one month.

   Okinawa Governor Nakaima Kota expressed his regret at the submission of the document and said, “The prefectural government is holding off acceptance.”

   About 300-pages of documents showed for the first time the new U.S. base layout, including two 1600-meter runways set in a V-shape, two approach lights, hangars and aprons, as well as areas for support and refueling facilities.

   The documents also revealed that a 4,800-meter bank will be constructed around the base site and that work yards for the construction will be set up in the Henoko district in Nago City, on the west coast of Oura Bay, and in Oura Bay.

   The construction will exert a serious negative impact on the living conditions of residents around Camp Schwab and the rich environment in the area where endangered dugongs inhabit.                     - Akahata, August 8, 2007